Friday after Ash Wednesday
Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs
First reading Isaiah 58:1-9
True fasting, as Isaiah proclaims, is not merely an external observance but a transformation of the heart that manifests in concrete acts of justice and mercy. God desires a fast that liberates, that loosens the bonds of oppression, and that lifts the burdens placed upon the vulnerable. It is a call to radical generosity—sharing bread with the hungry, offering shelter to the homeless, and clothing those in need. This form of fasting is not a private piety but a communal responsibility, a reflection of divine love at work in the world. When we embrace this way of life, Isaiah promises, our light will break forth like the dawn, illuminating the darkness of injustice, and God’s healing grace will restore us. In giving of ourselves, we receive; in lifting others, we are lifted; in breaking the chains of others, we find our own freedom. Let’s reflect: Lent is a season of spiritual renewal, calling us to fasting that frees the oppressed, cares for the vulnerable, and reflects God’s love through acts of justice and mercy.
Don Giorgio